---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: And this vague little smile is my all…"
description: "\"And this vague little smile is my all purpose expression the meaning of which I will leave to your discretion.\" — Ani DiFranco"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/ani-difranco-813_discretion_and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-pu_337793.jpg"
---

#  And this vague little smile is my all purpose expression…

![“And this vague little smile is my all purpose expression the meaning of which I will leave to your discretion.” quote by Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/ani-difranco-813_discretion_and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-pu_337793.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/ani-difranco-813_discretion_and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-pu_337793.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/ani-difranco-813_discretion_and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-pu_337793.jpg)

> “And this vague little smile is my all purpose expression the meaning of which I will leave to your discretion.”

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

A vague smile can serve as a flexible, personal expression, leaving its meaning open to the observer.

**In simple terms:** A smile can be ambiguous and personal.

Key Takeaway

Use ambiguity to invite interpretation.

Themes

communication art expression

Mood

thoughtful neutral

Type

artistic conversational

When to use this quote

- social interactions
- art performances
- written dialogue
- online messaging

Key Concepts

symbolism personal meaning nonverbal cues

Questions to Reflect On

- What does your smile convey?
- How do you interpret others’ ambiguous signals?

A Different Perspective

Ambiguity may cause misunderstanding.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Discretion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/) [Expression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expression/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) [Smile](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smile/) [Vague](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vague/)

## Related quotes

> [The fictive is an emormous territory it turns out, its boundaries vague, and there is little certainty about where it begins and ends.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siri-hustvedt/the-fictive-is-an-emormous-territory-it-turns-out-its-boundaries/)

[Siri Hustvedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siri-hustvedt/)

> [I think the underlying purpose is expression. It's not about technique, it's not about hitting the right note, writing the perfect prose, having the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-albright/i-think-the-underlying-purpose-is-expression-it-s-not-about-technique/)

[Charlie Albright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-albright/)

> [I see U there now, looking down at me, with that cute little smile, that I like 2 see. U say close ur eyes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-cchan/i-see-u-there-now-looking-down-at-me-with-that-cute-little-smile-that/)

[AaRon CcHan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-cchan/)

> [One of my favorite moments is to see the silly little smile on the face of my lover and it's even more perfect to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-my-favorite-moments-is-to-see-the-silly-little-smile-on-the/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Because of you, I laugh a little harder, cry a little less, and smile a lot more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-of-you-i-laugh-a-little-harder-cry-a-little-less-and-smile-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“see you tomorrow!" she would say with this sort of brave little smile, waving her hand with a mitten on it which is for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pati-hill/see-you-tomorrow-she-would-say-with-this-sort-of-brave-little-smile/)

Pati Hill

> [What exactly was your plan here, Mr. Andrews? To just walk in and flash your little smile, no questions asked?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-james/what-exactly-was-your-plan-here-mr-andrews-to-just-walk-in-and-flash/)

[Julie James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-james/)

> [A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-little-smile-a-word-of-cheer-a-bit-of-love-from-someone-near-a-2/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Because of him I laugh a little harder, cry a little less and smile alot more](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/because-of-him-i-laugh-a-little-harder-cry-a-little-less-and-smile/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [You look at me and think, 'she's so happy' but there's so much behind this little smile that you will never know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/babloo/you-look-at-me-and-think-she-s-so-happy-but-there-s-so-much-behind/)

[Babloo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/babloo/)

> [Even if your whole day was really bad and messed up a little smile from a baby can make it up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/even-if-your-whole-day-was-really-bad-and-messed-up-a-little-smile/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Sometimes the urge to just kick someone in the head washes over me and a tiny evil little smile forms...but then I blink, smile…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-hill/sometimes-the-urge-to-just-kick-someone-in-the-head-washes-over-me/)

[Nicole Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-hill/)

> [Every little smile can touch somebodys heart. No one is born happy, but all of us are born with the ability to create happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rbuendia/every-little-smile-can-touch-somebodys-heart-no-one-is-born-happy-but/)

[RBUENDIA](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rbuendia/)

> [If you look across the room and all it takes is a little smile to know what your friend is thinking, then you know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-look-across-the-room-and-all-it-takes-is-a-little-smile-to/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-greenleaf-whittier/a-little-smile-a-word-of-cheer-a-bit-of-love-from-someone-near-a/)

[John Greenleaf Whittier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-greenleaf-whittier/)

## More by Ani DiFranco

> [I am getting nowhere with you and I can't let you go and I cant get through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-getting-nowhere-with-you-and-i-can-t-let-you-go-and-i-cant-get/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [You've decided to love me for eternity, I'm still deciding who I want to be today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/you-ve-decided-to-love-me-for-eternity-i-m-still-deciding-who-i-want/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I'll walk the plank and I'll jump with a smile, cause if I'm gonna go down I'm gonna do it with style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-ll-walk-the-plank-and-i-ll-jump-with-a-smile-cause-if-i-m-gonna-go/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Having more exposure is kind of a bittersweet thing for me, honestly, because it's nice to have a little more job security in life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/having-more-exposure-is-kind-of-a-bittersweet-thing-for-me-honestly/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I can jump ship and swim-- that the ocean will hold me, that there's got to be more than this boat I'm in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-can-jump-ship-and-swim-that-the-ocean-will-hold-me-that-there-s-got/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [God help you if you are an ugly girl, 'course too pretty is also your doom, 'cause everyone harbors a secret hatred for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/god-help-you-if-you-are-an-ugly-girl-course-too-pretty-is-also-your/)

[Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I cannot name this, I cannot explain this, and I really don't want to so just call me shameless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-cannot-name-this-i-cannot-explain-this-and-i-really-don-t-want-to/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Somedays the line I walk turns out to be straight - Other days the line tends to deviate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/somedays-the-line-i-walk-turns-out-to-be-straight-other-days-the-line/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Taking me seriously is a big mistake. I certainly wouldn't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/taking-me-seriously-is-a-big-mistake-i-certainly-wouldn-t/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I am a work in progress Dressed in the fabric of a world unfolding Offering me intricate patterns of questions Rhythms that never come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-am-a-work-in-progress-dressed-in-the-fabric-of-a-world-unfolding/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [We have a complete void of progressive politics in this country right now. The will of the people goes ignored and unrealized. I'm searching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/we-have-a-complete-void-of-progressive-politics-in-this-country-right/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I'm home in New Orleans!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-m-home-in-new-orleans/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [I don't take good pictures 'cause I have the kind of beauty that moves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/i-don-t-take-good-pictures-cause-i-have-the-kind-of-beauty-that-moves/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [The scary truth is, you have to scratch some veneer off to gauge where the moral fiber really is in certain pockets of society.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/the-scary-truth-is-you-have-to-scratch-some-veneer-off-to-gauge-where/)

[Ani DiFranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

> [Both hands... Now use both hands. Oh no, don't close your eyes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/both-hands-now-use-both-hands-oh-no-don-t-close-your-eyes/)

[Ani Difranco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

[Explore all 363 Ani DiFranco quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/)

## More Discretion quotes

> [The policeman on the beat or in the patrol car makes more decisions and exercises broader discretion affecting the daily lives of people every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-e-burger/the-policeman-on-the-beat-or-in-the-patrol-car-makes-more-decisions/)

[Warren E. Burger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-e-burger/)

> [Aishwarya, my parent's daughter, has been brought up with enough values inculcated where I will use my discretion in my choices. At the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/aishwarya-my-parent-s-daughter-has-been-brought-up-with-enough-values/)

[Aishwarya Rai Bachchan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aishwarya-rai-bachchan/)

> [The fleet sailed to its war base in the North Sea, headed not so much for some rendezvous with glory as for rendezvous with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-tuchman/the-fleet-sailed-to-its-war-base-in-the-north-sea-headed-not-so-much/)

[Barbara Tuchman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-tuchman/)

> [“All sexual activity performed is at the discretion of the participants and is confined to only one hour.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-a-miles/all-sexual-activity-performed-is-at-the-discretion-of-the/)

Karen A.Miles

> [The first principle of solid wisdom is discretion, without it all the erudition of life is merely bagatelle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norm-macdonald/the-first-principle-of-solid-wisdom-is-discretion-without-it-all-the/)

[Norm MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norm-macdonald/)

> [ Forgiveness is the best part of valor...Discretion is easy. It's finding the courage to forgive yourself and others that is hard. \[Acheron\] ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/forgiveness-is-the-best-part-of-valor-discretion-is-easy-it-s-finding/)

[Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/)

> [Instead of a perpetual and perfect measure of the divine will, the fragments of the Koran were produced at the discretion of Mahomet; each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-gibbon/instead-of-a-perpetual-and-perfect-measure-of-the-divine-will-the/)

[Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-gibbon/)

> [“Commonality &amp; Camaraderie. By identifying, developing, and connecting powerful points of reference to others, you will have a rich resource of information from which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/commonality-camaraderie-by-identifying-developing-and-connecting/)

[Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/)

> [We lay aside letters never to read them again, and at last we destroy them out discretion, and so disappears the most immediate breath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/we-lay-aside-letters-never-to-read-them-again-and-at-last-we-destroy/)

[Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/)

> [Drunkenness is the very sepulcher Of man's wit and his discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/drunkenness-is-the-very-sepulcher-of-man-s-wit-and-his-discretion/)

[Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/)

> [Great is our admiration of the orator who speaks with fluency and discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/great-is-our-admiration-of-the-orator-who-speaks-with-fluency-and/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [Be not too tame neither, but let your own Discretion be your tutor; suit the action to the word, the word to the action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/be-not-too-tame-neither-but-let-your-own-discretion-be-your-tutor/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [O sir, you are old; nature in you stands on the very verge of her confine; you should be ruled and led by some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-sir-you-are-old-nature-in-you-stands-on-the-very-verge-of-her/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I have tales to tell, but I don't tell them. Discretion. Discretion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-peck/i-have-tales-to-tell-but-i-don-t-tell-them-discretion-discretion/)

[Gregory Peck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-peck/)

> [When you learn to discipline your tongue, you'll stop scrutinizing, judging and condemning others. You'll then focus on your own weaknesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mufti-ismail-menk/when-you-learn-to-discipline-your-tongue-you-ll-stop-scrutinizing/)

[Mufti Ismail Menk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mufti-ismail-menk/)

[Browse all 364 Discretion quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discretion/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "And this vague little smile is my all purpose expression the meaning of which I will leave to your discretion.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ani DiFranco"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-purpose-expression-the-meaning/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Discretion"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-purpose-expression-the-meaning/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/ani-difranco-813_discretion_and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-pu_337793.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/ani-difranco-813_discretion_and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-pu_337793.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc1/ani-difranco-813_discretion_and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-pu_337793.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“And this vague little smile is my all purpose expression the meaning of which I will leave to your discretion.” — Ani DiFranco",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ani DiFranco",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ani-difranco/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "And this vague little smile is...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-purpose-expression-the-meaning/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ani-difranco/and-this-vague-little-smile-is-my-all-purpose-expression-the-meaning/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
